Question

How can I make a saturated solution of potassium iodide?

Answer 1

Hint: Potassium iodide is a chemical compound which is used in medication and also as dietary supplements. It has a chemical formula as $KI$ . It is prepared by treating iodine with the hot solution of potassium hydroxide.

Complete answer:
Potassium iodide is prepared by reacting iodine with a hot solution of potassium hydroxide. It is mainly used in the form of a saturated solution, $100g$ of potassium iodide to $100ml$ of water. This equates to approximately $50mg/drop$ . The solution is usually added to water, fruit juice or milk before drinking.
Medical uses of potassium iodide are:
1. It is used as a dietary supplement.
2. It is used in thyroid protection.
3. It is used in nuclear reactions.
Potassium iodide is used with silver nitrate for the formation of silver iodide which is an important chemical in film photography. Potassium iodide is also a component in some disinfectants and hair treatment chemicals. It is also used as a fluorescence quenching agent in biomedical research, an application that takes advantage of collisional quenching of fluorescent substances by the iodide ion. However, for several fluorophores addition of potassium iodide concentrations increases the fluorescence intensity, and iodide acts as fluorescence enhancer.

Note:
There is reason for caution with prescribing the ingestion of high doses of potassium iodide and iodate, as their unnecessary use can cause conditions such as the Jod-Basedow phenomenon, trigger and/or worsen hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, and then cause temporary or even permanent thyroid conditions. It can also cause sialadenitis (an inflammation of the salivary gland), gastrointestinal disturbances, and rashes. Potassium iodide is also not recommended for people with dermatitis herpetiformis and hypocomplementemic vasculitis – conditions that are linked to a risk of iodine sensitivity.